If You Tell – By: Gregg Olsen – Review

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The Book:

After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle’s talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood. Until now.

For years, behind the closed doors of their farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, their sadistic mother, Shelly, subjected her girls to unimaginable abuse, degradation, torture, and psychic terrors. Through it all, Nikki, Sami, and Tori developed a defiant bond that made them far less vulnerable than Shelly imagined. Even as others were drawn into their mother’s dark and perverse web, the sisters found the strength and courage to escape an escalating nightmare that culminated in multiple murders.

Harrowing and heartrending, If You Tell is a survivor’s story of absolute evil—and the freedom and justice that Nikki, Sami, and Tori risked their lives to fight for. Sisters forever, victims no more, they found a light in the darkness that made them the resilient women they are today—loving, loved, and moving on.

The Author:

#1 New York Times and Amazon Charts bestselling author Gregg Olsen has written more than thirty books, including Lying Next to Me, The Last Thing She Ever Did, and two novels in the Nicole Foster series, The Sound of Rain and The Weight of Silence. Known for his ability to create vivid and fascinating narratives, he’s appeared on multiple television and radio shows and news networks, such as Good Morning America, Dateline, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and MSNBC. In addition, Olsen has been featured in Redbook, People, and Salon magazine, as well as in the Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times, and New York Post. Both his fiction and nonfiction works have received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including prominence on the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Washington State officially selected his young adult novel Envy for the National Book Festival, and The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year.

A Seattle native who lives with his wife in rural Washington State, Olsen’s already at work on his next thriller. Visit him at http://www.greggolsen.com.

Going into this book I had to prepare. I really enjoy reading crime novels, but knowing this was based on true events, and involved children, I treaded lightly. I don’t know what I was expecting from this novel, but it wasn’t what I got. Yes I expected it to be heartbreaking, and sad, but never could I expect the amount of Evil this one person could posses. Not only was this abuser Evil, but used some of the most outrages manipulative tactics I have ever seen. The things that this one person did, and got away with will blow your mind. It almost doesn’t even seem real.

The emotions you have reading this book are intense. You can go from Anger, to Relieved, to Outrage in a matter of minutes. It was very well written.

The only thing I have to say is, and I can not explain this, reading it was hard. I don’t know if it was the format it was written, or what, but My mind tended to wonder as if it could not keep my full attention. So, because of this I downloaded the audiobook and decided to try to listen to it, it made a world of difference. I finished it in two day. So if you are having trouble reading this for any reason, I would suggest getting the Audiobook and listening to it. Hope this helps.

5 Stars!

This book was very well done. With the hard topics it covers I was worried I wouldn’t be able to finish it, but once you start you can’t stop. I am so glad I tried the AudioBook or this review may have been completely different.

Amazon Job Gregg!!

—Pixie

Existence – By: L. D. Whitney – Review

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The Book:

After a harrowing encounter at the bottom of the world, biologist Adalyn Price wants nothing more than to get away from it all. Hounded by the media and the scientific community alike, her sister Penelope is the only person that stands between Ada and her nightmares. And when a stranger’s proposal sparks Penny’s interest, Ada is forced to rethink her plans.

José Narvaez, a researcher studying life in the Amazon, approaches the sisters after stumbling across a creature that had roamed unseen for 12,000 years. For millennia, tribes have passed down stories of monsters living in the jungle. 

Now, evidence has come to light that threatens to reveal the hidden truths in age old myths. Reluctantly, Ada and Penny agree to join his expedition, aiming to provide the world with proof that monsters do exist, and deserve to be protected. But the Amazon doesn’t give up its secrets without a fight, and there are more than myths and legends in the flesh haunting the uncharted Amazonian wilderness. Some monsters are more human than not.

Also includes an exclusive short story that continues Ada and Penny’s adventures!

The Author:

First and foremost, I wanted to write a tale of action and adventure. I drew my inspirations from the pulp adventures of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Lester Dent, and Robert E. Howard, among others. More modern influences include James Rollins, Preston and Child, and Steve Alten. As a kid (let’s be honest, even today), I am fascinated with the ancient world. From dinosaurs, to mega fauna, to prehistoric civilizations, all of them led me to be an archaeologist and a history teacher.
My main goal is to entertain. I want the reader to go for a ride.
I sincerely, hope you enjoy “Existence”. Leave a review if you feel so inclined. I appreciate any and all feedback.
There will be more on the way.

Existence takes you on a crazy adventure through the Amazon looking for things that should not exist. The book is so well written and researched you will forget it’s Fiction. Time passed quickly as I was dragged into the pages with the group, heart pounding, the scenes come to life.

The research that went into this book had to be extensive, and it shows how much the Author cares to not only be entertaining, but educational as well. I learned quite a lot about the Amazon, and even more so about some extinct animals. It was fascinating how the facts were mixed in with the entertainment.

The characters are well written and relatable in so many ways. From anxiety, to bravery, and love it’s all there. They were well rounded and likable. I even liked the bad guy thrown in!

Another small note, as silly as it is. I loved how the chapters had titles. I miss reading chapter titles and being excited for what was to come.

5 Stars!

A quick read, well researched, and well written novel. It keeps you on the edge of your seat during the Adventure, and there is not one dull moment.

Wonderful Job L.D.

—Pixie

Last Day – By: Luanne Rice – Review

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The Book:

Years ago, Beth Lathrop and her sister Kate suffered what they thought would be the worst tragedy of their lives the night both the famous painting Moonlight and their mother were taken. The detective assigned to the case, Conor Reid, swore to protect the sisters from then on.

Beth moved on, throwing herself fully into the art world, running the family gallery, and raising a beautiful daughter with her husband Pete. Kate, instead, retreated into herself and took to the skies as a pilot, always on the run. When Beth is found strangled in her home, and Moonlight goes missing again, Detective Reid can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu.

Reid immediately suspects Beth’s husband, whose affair is a poorly kept secret. He has an airtight alibi—but he also has a motive, and the evidence seems to point to him. Kate and Reid, along with the sisters’ closest childhood friends, struggle to make sense of Beth’s death, but they only find more questions: Who else would have wanted Beth dead? What’s the significance of Moonlight?

Twenty years ago, Reid vowed to protect Beth and Kate—and he’s failed. Now solving the case is turning into an obsession . . .

The Author:

Luanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-four novels that have been translated into twenty-four languages. In 2002, Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree, and she also received an honorary doctorate from Saint Joseph College. In June 2014, she received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence as a literary artist.

Several of Rice’s novels have been adapted for television, including Crazy in Love, for TNT; Blue Moon, for CBS; Follow the Stars Home and Silver Bells, for the Hallmark Hall of Fame; and Beach Girls, for Lifetime.

Rice is a creative affiliate of the Safina Center, an organization that brings together scientists, artists, and writers to inspire a deeper connection with nature—especially the sea. Rice is an avid environmentalist and advocate for families affected by domestic violence. She lives on the Connecticut Shoreline.

Everything about this novel is so elegant. The characters, the setting, even the crime scene all have a certain beauty to them. The way the author describes the art and scenery is an art in itself. I loved being transported to this beautiful place.

The story is very tragic, but again it is done with such Grace. The Character who is killed is honored throughout the entire book. Even though we never get to meet Beth, we definitely get to know her through her loved ones.

The ending, WoW! I did not expect that. It really goes to show who you can and can’t trust in life.

All the characters were so well done. You love the ones you’re meant to, you’re suspicious of a few, and you even dislike a couple. And the entire thing works so well with this story.

5 Stars!

This Novel is everything I expected it to be and so much more. I didn’t expect to fall in love with the characters as I have. I was sad to see it end.

Great Job Luanne!!

—Pixie

Save Your Breath – By: Melinda Leigh – Review

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The Book:

When true-crime writer Olivia Cruz disappears with no signs of foul play, her new boyfriend, Lincoln Sharp, suspects the worst. He knows she didn’t leave willingly and turns to attorney Morgan Dane and PI Lance Kruger to find her before it’s too late.

As they dig through Olivia’s life, they are shocked to discover a connection between her current book research on two cold murder cases and the suicide of one of Morgan’s prospective clients.

As Morgan and Lance investigate, the number of suspects grows, but time is running out to find Olivia alive. When danger comes knocking at their door, Morgan and Lance realize that they may be the killer’s next targets.

The Author:

#1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journalbestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker. A lifelong lover of books, she started writing as a way to preserve her sanity when her youngest child entered first grade. During the next few years, she joined Romance Writers of America, learned a few things about writing a novel, and decided the process was way more fun than analyzing financial statements. Melinda’s debut novel, She Can Run, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. She’s also garnered Golden Leaf and Silver Falchion Awards, along with two nominations for a RITA and three Daphne du Maurier Awards. Her other novels include She Can Tell, She Can Scream, She Can Hide, She Can Kill, Midnight Exposure, Midnight Sacrifice, Midnight Betrayal, Midnight Obsession, Hour of Need, Minutes to Kill, Seconds to Live, Say You’re Sorry, Her Last Goodbye, Bones Don’t Lie, What I’ve Done, and Secrets Never Die. She holds a second-degree black belt in Kenpo karate; teaches women’s self-defense; and lives in a messy house with her husband, two teenagers, a couple of dogs, and two rescue cats.

This is the sixth in this series, but I read the others before Pixie Ponders was a thing, so I’m going to do a general review of the series. I picked up the first book in this series on a whim, the cover caught my eye and the description sealed the deal, I was not disappointed.

I love all the characters, it’s that simple. Morgan, her kids, her dad, Lance, Sharp, all of them are so well written and likable. They are all relatable for different reasons and are probably some of my favorite characters ever put into a novel.

Every single one of these books has caught my attention and ran away with it. I’m pretty sure not one book in this series has taken me over 24 hours to finish. The Mysteries are always well thought out and well done. The endings are always a surprise. Never a disappointment.

If you enjoy Mysteries and Private Investigators I can guarantee you will love these books.

5 Stars for this entire series!

I look forward to these coming out and am checking constantly for the new one. One of my favorite series of all time.

Great Job Melinda!

—Pixie

Xander Chase and The Unicorn Code – By: Carrie Weston – Review

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The Book:

Lilly Honey Star is a 15-year-old like no other; she is the sole survivor of a mass murder and is suspected of being the half-mad murderess. Detective Stacy has her doubts about Lilly’s guilt, and when a stranger starts asking bizarre questions, she—along with Lilly—is pulled into the core of the case, which is bigger and more dangerous than they could have ever imagined.

Xander Chase, the angel of death and judiciary of spirits, is on the case. Desperate to make his father, Death himself, proud, Xander must unravel the perilous lies and deceit that’s spread through the realms of sinister creatures, before the murderer’s eye turns on him.

The Author:

A bit about the lady behind the wings. Carrie is a divorcee in her early 30s with a young son and crazy dog. She has completed an Open Study College, fiction writing level 3 course. Since she was a little girl, she dreamt of becoming a fully fledged authoress. Carrie loves to write fantasy fiction for young adults and hopes that the wings of her dreams will take flight with this, her debut novel: Xander Chase and the Unicorn Code.

This book was a treat, wrapped up and presented perfectly. The story is so intriguing from page one, that it’s nearly impossible to put down. The mystery and suspense are played out just right. This book deserves far more attention then it gets.

Every single character in this novel was well written, placed perfectly, and enjoyable. I can’t even attempt to chose a favorite because they are all seriously fantastic. It’s so great to watch these characters grow and become their true selfs.

I loved the detective aspect, mixed in with the supernatural aspect. You seen the world from a “human” prospective, and from a few different creatures throughout the realms. It all mixed very well and came together in the end perfectly.

5 stars for this morsel!!

I couldn’t stop reading, it was like I was there, waiting to see what would happen next. I really hope the author has a sequel planned, because I am already itching to continue this story.

Great Job Carrie!!!

—Pixie

Duckett and Dyer: Dicks for Hire – By: G. M. Nair – Review

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The Book:

Michael Duckett is fed up with his life. His job is a drag, and his roommate and best friend of fifteen years, Stephanie Dyer, is only making him more anxious with her lazy irresponsibility. Things continue to escalate when they face the threat of imminent eviction from their palatial 5th floor walk-up and find that someone has been plastering ads all over the city for their Detective Agency.

The only problem is: He and Stephanie don’t have one of those.

Despite their baffling levels of incompetence, Stephanie eagerly pursues this crazy scheme and drags Michael, kicking and screaming, into the fray only to find that they are way out of their depth. They stumble upon a web of missing people that are curiously linked to a sexually audacious theoretical physicist and his experiments with the fabric of space-time. And unless Michael and Stephanie can put their personal issues aside and fix the multi-verse, the concept of existence itself may, ironically, no longer exist.

Review

See What “People” Are “Saying”:


“Who are you? How did you get into my office?” – Neil Gaiman, if asked about this book, probably


“I can’t stop laughing!” – Victim of Papuan Laughing Sickness (Deceased)


“Duckett & Dyer has a tremendous energy to it. When released, it will warm your body and perhaps even your soul.” – International Journal of Burning Things In A Fireplace


“A long written or printed literary composition.” – Webster’s Dictionary Definition of ‘book‘


“Duckett & Dyer is the funniest thing I’ve ever read.” – A woman who has never read anything before

The Author:

G.M. Nair is a crazy person who should never be taken seriously. Despite possessing both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering and a job as an Aviation and Aerospace Consultant, he writes comedy for the stage and screen, and maintains the blog MakeMomMarvel.Com. Now he is making the leap into the highly un-lucrative field of independent book publishing.

Duckett & Dyer: Dicks For Hire is his first novel, and in a world with a fair and loving god, it would be his last. Alas, he tends to continue.

G.M. Nair lives in New York City and in a constant state of delusion.

https://ds-df.com

Duckett and Dyer find out about their PI business in an ad placed in the newspaper, then it’s everywhere. Dyer being the more carefree loves the idea, Duckett not so much. He can’t stop asking himself who put out the ads and why? Was it a trap?

Following a lead into a missing persons case, the detective business takes Dyer and Duckett to places they never thought they would go, and beyond.

The adventure that the characters go through is comedic gold. You can feel the Authors sense of humor dripping from the pages. I was laughing so much I had to re read some paragraphs.

On top of being hilarious, this book has so many mysteries, it hooks you immediately. The story is very well written, every small detail is put in for a reason. Then at the end it’s tied up into a nice little bow, and the climax is worth it.

The characters are amazing. Poor Michael being constantly dragged into unwanted adventures by his carefree friend Stephanie. They are both relatable in so many ways. The friendship is bitter sweet, but lovely at the same time.

I couldn’t put this book down, I finished it in one sitting. The book is so entertaining time just flies by as you read it. I wish I knew these characters in real life.

5 Stars!!

Great Job G. M!

—Pixie

Dream Girl – By: S. J. Lomas – Review

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Book:

From the day Gabriel starts working with Christine at the library, he turns her life upside-down with sizzling chemistry, bizarre stories, and incredible dreams. Dreams so vivid they feel like real life.  

Christine’s friends think she’s falling for Gabriel fast but they don’t know about the secret life Gabriel and Christine are living at night. Who would believe her if she told? As the dreams become more dangerous, it’s clear they’re being orchestrated by someone. But who? And more importantly, why? 

As Christine struggles to help Gabriel unravel the secrets of the dreamworld, she risks her closest friendships, her college plans, and maybe even her life.

Author:

S.J. is a cheerful Michigan girl who writes strange and somewhat dark stories. Young adult literature is her preferred genre, with an extra special fondness for books by Michael Lawrence, Beth Revis and Eve Marie Mont. She thinks she’d enjoy living an extra life in a dreamworld, especially if she could dream her way to England. Facebook is her social media of choice, find her at:

https://www.facebook.com/SJLomas

When I started Dream Girl I was extremely excited. I have been wanting to check this book out for months. I will say I was not disappointed.

This was a rather quick read for me, mostly because it didn’t leave my hand much. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was going on, everything would change. It kept you guessing and always provided more questions then answers.

I love the main character, she is relatable in so many ways. The situations she finds herself in are out of this world, but her reactions are always right on point with reality. The love story was there, but not overbearing, which was refreshing.

All the characters were very well written and real. I also love that there wasn’t so many people to keep track of. It makes the story so much more enjoyable when it’s only the MC and a few friends or family, in my opinion.

Also, I love reading local stories. So the fact this was based around the Detroit area makes me smile when I read it. The mannerisms in the characters are so familiar, and that always makes for a good read.

This book was fun, and fast paced. It makes the time slip by as you get lost in its pages. The characters were relatable, the setting of course amazing. The story keeps you guessing all the way until the end, and still leaves you with questions. Love It!

5 Stars!!

Great Job S.J.

—Pixie

The Wild Roses – By: D. B. Carter – Review

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Book:

Three friendships torn apart by one chance meeting.

By autumn 1984 Sharon and Pip are in their final years of school and on the verge of adulthood. Best friends for as long as they can remember, the two young women befriend their badly bullied schoolmate, Gavin. Their futures are bright until a chance meeting leads to a path of corruption, anger and malicious betrayal. Sometimes, when we can’t rely on those we love, our only hope is in the kindness of strangers.

All three teens are driven from their homes to follow very different paths. They face dark times of heartbreak and new temptations.

But there may be ways out and better futures, if they are willing to take risks. What will they choose, and will they ever see each other again?

The Wild Roses is a coming-of-age drama for all ages that speaks honestly of love, loss, jealousy, coercion and self-discovery.

Author:

D. B. Carter lives with his family on the edge of a small town nestled amongst the rolling hills of rural Devon, England. 

The son of two nomadic artists, he grew up in a world of creativity, studying painting techniques under his parents’ tutelage. In his 20s, he went to university and followed a career in science and later commerce, running his own business for twenty years. 

A lifelong bibliophile, he is firmly of the opinion that there is no such thing as too many books, only insufficient shelf space; it was his love of classical literature, of Dickens and Brontë, that led to the creation of “The Cherries.”

His philosophy is, “If we look for the good, we will find it.”

Find his works here:

https://t.co/qN2TsxbivB?ssr=true

The Wild Roses takes on so many different lives, so many different personalities, and it is done so expertly. The characters that you meet are all different, all think differently, act differently, respond differently. The fact that one man wrote this entire novel stuns me. It shows me the Author is very good at not only reading people, but feeling their emotions.

The story delves into many horrible life situations from drugs, to assault, and betrayal. Even though, it still touches on love at first sight, the beauty behind a poem, family, friendship, bonds, all the amazing things in life that makes it all worth it. It also shows how many things were handled in the 80s, like babies before marriage, being in a same sex relationship, and how gossip and rumors could ruin someone.

This novel was not only a joy to read, it was like being transported into the book itself. The emotions were so raw and real, the love so contagious, I couldn’t put the book down.

As with The Cherries by D B Carter, the setting was as beautiful as ever. The descriptions in his books make me so eager to visit the places in them to see its beauty for myself – maybe some day.

I enjoyed everything about this novel, from the characters to the story they tell. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. You can feel the emotions coming off it’s pages. Another wonderful success for D B Carter!

5 Stars!

Wonderful Work D. B!

—Pixie

Second Skin: Unified – By: MDamonBaker – Review

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The Book:

The fate of an entire continent rested in my hands. No pressure, right?

Starting with an empty plot of land in the middle of nowhere, I was supposed to build an empire spanning the breadth of the known Realms. I’d overcome a great deal during my short time in this world, but even I wondered if this task was too much for anyone to accomplish. 

But the alternative was to stand by and do nothing while endless wars and other tragedies plagued the lands I called home, and that was something I simply couldn’t do. Armed with powerful weapons handed down to us by those who had failed to accomplish this very same goal, my companions and I began paving the way for Arrika’s future. 

Yet almost before I could begin, we were set upon by our enemies; those who would see the darkness continue its relentless assault against the very people I sought to protect. With powerful forces lining up against us, it seemed as if my mission was doomed to fail. 

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of graphic violence and deals with mature/adult themes.

The Author:

M Damon Baker lives in sunny Florida with his family, dog, and 8.5 million alligators. Having played both tabletop and MMO RPG’s for more years than he cares to admit, M Damon was inspired to write his first novel after discovering the LitRPG genre. Keep up with him and be the first to discover his new releases by following M Damon on Amazon and his social media sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damon.grey.1401

Twitter: @MDamonBaker1

Unified is book 3 of the Second Skin series. This was my first adventure into RPG Lit, and it won’t be the last. To say I’m completely enthralled with these books is putting it lightly.

The stories each book tells is not only a continuation from the previous book, but a quest of its own. The characters are well written, and quickly become like family for the reader. One of my favorite things the author has done is the little “trash talking”, if you will, thrown in. These characters love each other very much, but will never miss an opportunity to give the other a hard time, It’s like family, and is cause for many laughs.

The setting of this book is amazing. I love descriptions of the New Realm, and what the crew do with it as time goes on.

The Quest In this book is a long one for our hero’s, but it has plenty of rewards to accompany it.

One thing this book has is amazing development for the characters. It is the longest in the series, and that’s because it really delves in to the history of its main character and makes her all the more fantastic.

I honestly could talk about this series for hours, but I’ll end it here, you should definitely check it out for yourself.

I’ll also be reviewing the 4th book in this series in a couple weeks.

The series grabs and keeps your attention. If you like video games, DND, or just wanna try something new, I highly recommend this series.

5 Star for this Masterpiece.

Good Job MD!!

-Pixie

The Night Summer Ended – By: Kawiria Creed – Review

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THE AUTHOR

KAWIRIA CREED is a hobbyist photographer, pianist, and teenage author of The Night Summer Ended, a collection of poetry themed around Canadian nature. 

​

She also writes Young Adult fiction and is currently working on her debut YA Fantasy novel, Red.

​

Kawiria lives in British Columbia, Canada, with her family and an adorable labrador puppy. She plans to study Interior Design at university and write novels of various genres on the side.

https://kawiriacreed.wixsite.com/kawiriacreed

Pre-Purchase here: https://books2read.com/u/4j1NQD

THE BOOK:

This book is a short collection of poems themed around self-reflection and the beautiful nature of Canada. Each chapter is divided according to the four seasons, with poems and photography to match those seasons. If you believe beauty is found in the little things, this is the perfect book for you.

I don’t read much poetry, but this collection was very enjoyable. I really like how the poems switch seasons as the book went on. Some of the poems make you think, some of them give you a giggle, and some are just beautiful.

One of the things I absolutely enjoyed with this collection is the photography. The photos the Author took, and included in here are stunning. You can tell that the Author is very talented at not only creating beautiful writings, but also beautiful art.

I highly recommend you check this out if you enjoy poems about Nature, or Art of any kind, as this collections is just one fabulous piece of Art.

I give this collection of Poems 5 Stars!

It is a quick read of beautiful sometimes silly poems, and pleasing pictures. Where can you go wrong?

Wonderful Job Kawiria!!

–Pixie